Hannah Hoag is an award-winning climate and environment journalist at The Narwhal, focusing on policy accountability and Indigenous-led conservation. Her investigative work has influenced parliamentary debates and educational curricula across Canada.
“Hoag’s reporting bridges the gap between parliamentary press galleries and remote Indigenous territories – a rare feat in Canadian journalism.” – 2024 CAJ Judges’ Commentary
With bylines in The New York Times and Nature, Hoag brings global significance to local environmental conflicts. Her current work for CBC’s Climate Unit expands her reach into broadcast documentaries exploring health impacts of resource extraction.
We’ve followed Hannah Hoag’s work as a beacon of rigorous environmental journalism, blending policy analysis with grassroots storytelling. Over her 15-year career, she’s evolved from science reporting to investigating the intersections of climate change, energy systems, and Indigenous sovereignty.
Hoag’s journey began at Arctic Deeply, where she honed her skills in long-form climate reporting as managing editor. Her transition to The Narwhal and CBC’s Health Science and Climate Unit marked a shift toward investigative journalism that holds power accountable. Recent bylines reveal a focus on Canada’s energy politics, often juxtaposing government narratives with on-the-ground ecological impacts.
This exposé analyzes leaked documents showing federal support for expanding Alberta’s oilsands despite climate pledges. Hoag traces lobbying efforts by fossil fuel interests, contrasting them with Indigenous communities’ legal challenges. Her methodology combines Access to Information requests with interviews from government scientists silenced by nondisclosure agreements. The piece sparked parliamentary debates about reconciling economic priorities with Canada’s 2030 emissions targets.
Hoag dissects Poilievre’s proposed regulatory rollbacks through the lens of endangered species protection. She interviews biologists whose habitat surveys were shelved during previous conservative administrations, creating a historical pattern of sidelining science. The article’s impact metrics show exceptional engagement in provinces facing resource development conflicts, particularly British Columbia’s LNG projects.
Departing from policy analysis, this immersive piece documents Indigenous knowledge transmission. Hoag participates in hide-tanning workshops while recording elders’ climate adaptation strategies. The narrative challenges stereotypes of Indigenous communities as climate victims, instead showcasing intergenerational resilience. Educators have since incorporated this work into provincial curricula on decolonial environmentalism.
Hoag prioritizes stories where Indigenous communities lead environmental protection, as seen in her Georgian Bay reporting. Pitches should highlight specific Traditional Ecological Knowledge applications, like Anishinaabe water monitoring techniques. Avoid tokenistic “Indigenous perspectives” – her work demands substantive integration of sovereignty issues.
Her oilsands investigation exemplifies how to trace corporate influence on climate inaction. Successful pitches will identify underreported government subsidies or regulatory loopholes, particularly those contradicting public sustainability commitments. Provide leaked documents or whistleblower contacts to align with her investigative approach.
The Poilievre analysis demonstrates Hoag’s ability to translate complex regulations into community impacts. Frame pitches around specific ecosystems or species affected by policy changes, emphasizing field research from biologists and local stewards. Avoid purely theoretical climate models without on-the-ground validation.
The federal government ‘sees a long-term future for the oilsands.’ Here’s what you need to know
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he’ll fast-track approvals and scrap key rules that protect the environment
In Georgian Bay, First Nations youth are coming together over hide tanning, language lessons and land stewardship
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Climate, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
